Hall of Testimonies

Henrzk Bartul gave his permission to use this interview (email to KMS dated Oct 17, 2011)

Describing the bi-weekly medical tests, as well as the frequent haircuts. They would save the hair clippings and stuff leather balls with them.

His mother died, shortly after receiving a letter from her husband saying that they will soon join the Polish Army. She was buried next to her son Kazimierz in a …

Describing how his father sheltered KOP soldiers on his property, helped bury their arms, and obtained civilian clothing for them. They tried to escape the Soviet-controlled area of Poland in …

Describing the trip to the labour camp in Siberia.

Describing how his parents were arrested and then deported, and his insistence on joining them on the train

Eugenia describes how she kept wanting to save part of her bread so that she could bring it to her starving mother, but she was so hungry herself that she …

Describing the train journey south to find the Polish Army, and her father’s enlisting in the Army.

Describing how they found their father wandering around, without any memory of his family. His memory returned when he heard his son call to him.

Describing how important religion was to the deportees.

Describing how she saved a girl named Wanda from drowning in the river in Siberia.

Describing how they felt as they were being deported, and how important the loss of one’s country is.

Describing how she met her husband and he asked her to marry him the next day. They were married after only 5 meetings.

Describing the condition of the hospital – all the windows were blown out by the bombing. Wounded were arriving from all the battles after Cassino.

Describing the set up of the hospital and dealing with the massive number of wounded from the Battle of Monte Cassino.

Describing his father’s work before the war at Lwow Radio, and his work for the Polish Government in Exile during and after the war.

Describing how his mother was convinced to send them to India, and their overland trip by lorry from Uzbekistan to India.

Describing the problems their mother had in getting them from India to Teheran.

Describing the journey south to join the Polish Army

Describing how he was treated for scarlet fever in the labour camp.

Describing how his Uncle was promoted in the Polish 2nd Corps, and eventually replaced General Maczek and served in the iPAD in Meppen.

Describing how his uncle was arrested and sent to Siberia, but managed to conceal his true identity as a high-ranking officer.

Describing how their mother would sell valuables that she had brought from Poland, and how this helped them survive and leave the USSR.

Describing how he had to work in the fields at age 6 1/2 !!